Trinity Copeland sentenced to 25 years to life

Trinity Copeland, an 19-year-old from Troy who was convicted of murder for shooting and killing her father in 2012, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Thursday.

Copeland spoke before her sentencing, maintaining that she killed her father, Harlan Copeland, because she was afraid he would hurt her. Prosecutors said Trinity Copeland killed her father to avoid punishment for stealing his debit card.

My colleague Bob Gardinier reports:

Copeland talked at length, saying no one but her would understand the situation she faced on the night her father died. She contended she killed him because he said he would kill them both if she did not shoot him.

“I had no way out. I’m a victim too. I’m sorry,” she said.

Earlier, Copeland cried at the defense table as an uncle asked Rensselaer County Judge Andrew Ceresia to show leniency.

But as she spoke, a woman in the back of the courtroom yelled, “What about Harlan?”

10 Responses

I originally felt sorry for this girl and thought she had a case but you’re not being threatened if your Dad is asleep on the couch – not at that moment. You can walk out, walk away – go to a friend, go to a relative, go to the police, go to a domestic violence shelter/program – just get out – don’t kill somebody (and go to jail for a significant portion of your life).

If she was being beaten at the time and defended herself, she might have a case, but that’s not what happened. She stole money from her father, a single parent. Then she waited until her father was asleep and shot him dead. Her life was not in danger, HIS was.

The abuse accusation was made at trial and there was no evidence to sustain the premise that was a contributing factor in her decision to murder her father that day.

If there was a pattern of abuse, they why was she completely unafraid to steal Harlan’s debit card a withdraw his money to party with her friends? She only got concerned when she saw the police report and knew the investigation would trace the purchases right to her.

I only knew Harlan on a professional level, but I only ever saw him sober, polite, and considerate. I can’t say I know what goes on behind anyone’s doors, but the court can, and it made it’s decision.

Being in a single-parent, single-child family is tough, I know. There’s never enough money and your life always seems to pale when compared next to those with two parents, and a house, instead of an apartment. Perhaps for a moment, Trinity wanted to enjoy a slice of life that her father could not provide for her. I know Harlan wanted to be able to provide more and had taken classes in solar power not long before his death to expand his employment opportunities (he was an electrician).

Trinity has a big burden to carry, and no life is wasted while there is still life. I hope she rises from the ashes and makes a positive contribution for herself and her family.

She shot an unarmed man sleeping on his couch…… the sentence is appropriate. If she was being abused why didn’t she or other family members speak up about it before she shot him????? Street/vigilante justice shouldn’t be rewarded.